Windows for surgical casts



cit-14, 1958 a. w. SCHROEDER 2,855,922

wmnows FOR SURGICAL CASTS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 3. 1954 Fig.3

IN VEN TOR. GERALD W. ScHROEDER BY (ATTY.

Oct. 14, 1958 (5, w. scHRQEDER 2,855,922

WINDOWS FOR SURGICAL CASTS Filed June 3, 1954 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. GERALD WSCHROEDER ATTORNEY nie States The present inventionrelates to a surgical plaster cast, and, more particularly, it relates to a means for gaining access from time to time to a part of the patients body enclosed bythe cast.

In certain types of surgical cases where a cast is placed upon a persons body, it is required that the cast be cut to permit access to the patients body for treat ment of an incision or the like. Heretofore, the conventional manner of opening a cast has been 'a tedious task of cautiously cutting the cast down to the dressed wound on the body. This is a very precarious and exhausting job for both the doctor and'the patient.

An object of this invention is to provide a surgical cast which can be readily and easily opened for purposes of treating a wound on the patients body.

Another object is to provide a surgical cast with an opening to the patients body whereby said opening can be covered and uncovered as desired.

Still another object is to provide a surgical cast with a 1 removable cover located over an access opening in said I cast whereby said cover rigidly supports the edges of said opening when it is positioned on said cast. v v

Still a further object of this invention isto provide a surgical cast with a removable cover which permits ventilation ofthe area of the patients body below said cover. A further object is to provide a method of treating a 2 compound fracture or the like involving a plaster cast for maintaining the parts in position while affording easy [and repeated access to the wound, and ventilation thereof, without imparing the protection provided by the cast.

A further object is to provide a method of making such a cast.

I Other objects and advantages will become more apparent from reading the following description in the light of the accompanying drawings, in which,

Fig. 1 is a view of a patients leg enclosed in a surgical cast containing the structure ofthis invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of a portionof the view of Fig. 1 but with the desired opening cutinto the surgical cast.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on theline 3|-3 of Fig.2.

V Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig.2 of ture embodying the invention. Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken'on the line 55 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a similar view of a further modified construction. u I

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views, and it is to be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the construction disclosed, or in fact in any manner except as herein set forth and defined by the claims.

ln'Fig. 1 there is shown in dotted lines a leg 10, and in full lines a foot 11 of a patient. The leg is completely enclosed by a surgical cast 12 which was formed upon or about the leg 10 by'the usual method of wrapping plaster treated gauze therea'bout, and which sets to a modified strucice form a rigid cast in the usual manner. Also shown in Fig. 1, in dotted lines, is a structure generally designated as 14 which embodies this invention.

In the case of the patients leg shown herein, it is assumed that the leg 10 has suffered a compound fracture causing the flesh of the leg to be cut in the vicinity of the shin. To permit proper treatment of the flesh, it is necessary that the attending doctor have access thereto. Proper access is provided through structure 14' which is placed upon the patients leg prior to forming the cast ther'earound. Thus, the structure 14, which maybe of any material, preferably light and strong such as a plastic which may be moulded and hardened in well known manner, is placed adjacent or surrounding the cut flesh, which is first covered with the necessary dressings, th e cast 12 being wrapped around the leg and over the structure 14 to thereby'firmly position the latter on the leg 10 and underneath the cast 12. Structure 14; protects the cut portion from undue pressure, contamination etc. while the cast is being formed. I

As hereinbefore stated, an important feature of this invention is to permit easy access to the cut flesh on leg 10. v To this end cast 12 can be cut, forming an opening 15 whose margins extend transversely along a rectangular channel 16 provided in the top surface of a frame 17. of structure 14. It will be noted, particularly in Fig. 2, that channel 16'su'bstantially provides the boundaries of access opening 15 through the cast 12 andto the leg 10. Fig. 2 then shows the cast with a rectangular section removed, and it is to be noted that the groove 16,.acts as an integral guide for any instrument used for cutting the cast, being readily located when the cutting is started, and facilitating a clean cut of substantially the exact size desired for best results.

A removable cover 18 is also shown to conform approximatelyito the shape of channel 16 and the opening in frame 17 so that, when a piece of the castconforming to the shape of channel 16 is removed, a substantially similar opening to the cut "flesh is provided by the act of removing cover 18. Cover'18 in the present instance is nested within frame 17 which has an opening 21 extending therethrough and a bevel 22 extending around the upper edge of the section of the frame defining opening 21. The cover 18 is provided on the outer edge of its bottom surface 23 with a bevel 24 which matches bevel 22 of frame 17. When the cover 18 is then placed in position on frame 17, it nests therewith asthe respective bevel edges are in juxtaposition. The cover 18 is then maintained upwardly against any further movement downwardly into opening 21.. I w

' To secure the cover 18 in a locked position on frame 17, a lower plate 26 is slidably attached under the cover 18 to engage a slot 27 in the frame 17, "as shown in Fig. 3. Plate 26 is attached to cover 18 by a bolt or similar element 28 which is threaded into, or otherwise connected, to plate 26 with the head 29 positionedabove cover 18. A slot 31 is preferably provided in cover 18 to provide for lateral movement of the shank 32- of bolt 28 to extend plate 26 beyond the endof cover 18 into slot 27 as seen in Fig. 3. Bolt head is, of course, of greater diametrical dimension than the width of .slot 31 so that cover 18 and plate 26 form an assembled removable door in frame 17. It is further preferred that bolt from frame 17. To-remove the cover 18 from frame 17 it is merely necessary to slide plate 26 out of slot 27 by sliding bolt 28 along slot 31 to the dotted position shown-in Fig. 3. Plate -26 has then-likewise"beenmoved toits'dotted position towhere edge 37 abuts-the side of opening 21. The cover 18'and plate'26' are then free to be'r'emoved 'fr'om' the frame 17 through'thezopening 15 in cast'12.

A'further feature of-cover 18 and plate 26. is the provision of a plurality of ventilation holes 41'extending theretlirough 'whichregister in certain positions "out ofthe' cast" to form -th'eopening15. This is possible in the disclosed structure; since the holes are fully open during disengaging movement of plate 26 before 'the latt'e'ris fully disengaged from slot 27.

L It is also preferred that the frame 17 be shaped to conform to'the curvature of a patients-limb; Thus, for 'the 'fra'me 17, as "shown in thesedrawings; to be applied to a leg, Fig. 3 shows-an arcuate lower surface-42 curved in' one direction tosnugly contact the patient's leg. Also, "the corners of'fra'm'e 17 in contact with the leg should all be round as at 43 to further provide a comfortable fitover the leg.

The device may be provided in-various sizes andcontours to fit variousparts' of the body and is readily sterilized and used in anew' cast when a previous one has completed its work and been permanently removed. Various-"modificationscan be'made in the construction of the door structure 14 without departing from the "scope o'f-this invention.

V Onesuch change is that shown in Figs. 4 and 5.' Fig. 4 showsthe structure of this invention in a manner similar tdthat shown in Fig. 2 in that it is a plan view of the strilcture with the rectangular opening cut into the cast" 12 and the undesired part of the cast removed. This structure is positioned upon the'patients limb in the same manner as previously described. Also, it is held in position by the casts being formed over it.

"The structure consists of a frame 51 which is preferably generally s haped like above mentioned frame 17 except for the locking means. The top'surface of the frame 51 is provided 'with a knife channel or groove 52 which is shown in Fig.--4 to be rectangular across the face of the-frame. Formed into a shape corresponding to the rectangle defined by'the inside of the channel 52, is 'a cover 53' which has'a beveled edge 54 that fits on a portion of frame 51' that is beveled at 55 from approximately the inside edge of the channel 52 as best shown in Fig. 5.

It should be understood that cover 53 is removable "from frame 51 and, when it is so removed, an opening '57, extending through frame 51, is exposed to provide access to the patients limb from outside the cast 12. To secure the cover-53 ontoframe 51, the embodiment of Figs.*4' and 5 shows alatch 61, in the present instance pivotally attached to the underside of cover 53 'toexten'd beyond both' sides thereof. A shank62 is fixed or integral with the latch 61 to extend transversely from 1 the" center-thereof with a head or cross-bar 63 attached to the opposite end of shank 62. In assembly with cover the dotted position shown the cover 53 is locked onto the frame 51. It is so locked because the opposite ends 66 and 67 of latch 61 are respectively snugly received within suitably shaped grooves 68 and 69 formed in frame 51. Grooves 68 and 69 are formed in the frame underneath the plane of the cover 53, as seen in Fig. 6, and -thereby,vthrough latch 61, hold the cover onto the frame.

It will be apparent. that by,rotating head 63, and correspondingly. latch 61, tothe .dotted position shown in Fig. 4, the cover 53 is unlocked from frame 51 and free to be lifted therefrom.

Cover 53 may be provided with ventilation holes as 71 or not, as required. Also, the underside 72 of frame 51 is preferably curved to conform to the curvature of the part of a patients body to which it is to be applied.

Another change is that shown in Fig. 6, in which a frame portionr73. has a .guidingmeans or groove 74 and-adjacent thereto aninclined or beveled seat, 75

forming theboundaries of an access, opening as hereinbefore described, and against which is seated a cover 76 having abeveled under face 77 complementary to surface 75, cover 76-being .retained in place by means of a cross piece or latching member 78 outwardly of cover .76 and pivoted on a. stud, bolt or similar projection 79. Latching member78 inone position engages in recesses 80 and 81 at opposite-sides or margins of said access opening effectively, retaining cover 78 in place on seat 75. It is readily disengaged, however, by turning movement in .a mannersimilar to latching member 67 except that, member 78,being..outside of cover 76, maybe directly gripped by the fingers or an instrument for turning. -It is therefore unnecessary to provide for turning of .stud 79 or for. fixing it to latch 78. Ventholes in cover 76 may be provided as in the case of prior embodiments if desired.

The foregoing comprising a complete description of illustrative embodiments of the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patentof theUnited States is:

1. Az-surgical ,cast structure :comprising in, combination a cast shell. disposed about a body member to be treated, a frame embedded in the cast shell having an opening extending therethrough, asurgicalcast cutting tool guide located on -the face of said frame tosubstantially outline saidframe opening, and a door located on said .frameand operableover said frame opening to permit selectiveopening and., closing of said opening.

2. A surgical cast structure comprising in combination a cast shell disposed about abody member to be utreated, a rigid-frameembedded in the cast shell haying an access opening extending transversely therethrough, a surgical cast cuttingtool guide integral with said frame to substantially define said access opening therein, a movableclosure positioned within said, tool guide to .permit selective exposing and covering of said access opening, and a latch operable between said frameqand said closure to secure the latter upon said frame.

3. An article of manufacture for use with a surgical cast comprising in combination with a cast shell a frame embedded in said shell defining an opening extending through said frame .and having a bottom surface for placement upon the body of a person and having a top surface, a surgical. cast cutting tool guide integral with said frame on said top surface thereof, a closure fitted over said frame opening withinsaid cutting tool guide, and a latch for. securing said closure to said frame.

4. An article ofmanufacture comprisingin combination a frame having an openingextending transversely therethrough, a cutting tool guide integral with said frame, a cover fitted onto'saiduframe to close said opening therein, a:plate, attachment means interconnecting said cover and said plate to permit relative motion there between, 'saidframe having a groove therein adjacent a said opening forreceiving-said plate when the latter is moved relative to said cover to thereby lock said cover onto said frame.

5. An article of manufacture comprising in combination with a cast shell a frame embedded in said shell having an opening extending transversely therethrough, a cutting tool guide integral with said frame, a cover fitted onto said frame to close said opening therein, a latch, and attachment means interconnecting said cover and said latch to permit relative motion therebetween, said frame having a groove therein adjacent said opening for receiving said latch when the latter is moved relative to said cover to thereby lock said cover onto said frame.

6. In a surgical cast the combination of a cast shell disposed about a body member to be treated, a frame embedded in the cast shell defining an opening adjacent a portion of the member to which access may be necessary, a cast cutting tool guiding means on the frame disposed about and spaced outwardly from said opening, means closing :the opening between said member and said cast body, and releasable means acting on said means closing said opening and maintaining it in closing relation with said opening when said body shell has been cut away by use of said guiding means.

7. An article of manufacture comprising in combination a frame having an opening extending transversely therethrough, a cover fitted onto said frame to close said opening therein, -a plate contiguous with said cover, attachment means interconnecting said cover and said plate for relative sliding movement, said frame having a groove therein adjacent said opening for receiving said plate when laterally displaced relatively to said cover for locking said cover onto said frame, a plurality of ventilation holes in said cover, a plurality of ventilation holes in said plate registering with the above mentioned holes in one position of the parts, and said holes being so located as to register, when said plate is in one position in said groove, and to fail to register when said plate is in another position in said groove.

8. In a surgical cast the combination of a cast shell disposed about a body member to be treated, a frame embedded in the cast shell defining an access opening therethrough and having a bottom surface for placement upon said body member and having an upper seating surface, a removable closure seated on said surface, a rotatable latch rotatable in relation to and above said closure and engageable in one position with said frame for maintaining said closure in position on said seat, said latch being rotatable to disengage it from said frame and to release said closure for removal from said frame.

9. An article of manufacture for use with a surgical cast comprising in combination a frame defining an access opening therethrough and having a bottom surface for placement upon the body of a person and having an upper seating surface, a removable closure seated on said surface, a latch rotatable in relation to and beneath said closure, and engageable in one position with said frame for maintaining said closure in position on said seat, an actuating handle above said closure and means extending through said closure and connecting said rotatable latch with said handle for engaging and disengaging said latch with said frame by actuation of said handle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,206,339 Uhnan July 2, 1940 2,367,690 Purdy Jan. 23, 1945 2,523,837 Luger Sept. 26, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 15,442 Great Britain Sept. 7, 1901 of 1901 20,081 Great Britain Oct. 29, 1903 of 1903 269,938 Switzerland Nov. 1, 1950 

